Series six of Peaky Blinders will air this weekend, with audiences transported back to post-war Birmingham.
The much-loved Shelby family are returning to our screens for the next instalment of the smash-hit gangster drama.
There’ll be a notable absence in season six though – Helen McCrory, who played matriarch Polly Gray, sadly died last April after a private cancer battle.
A tribute to the actor is believed to air in the season premiere this week.
Here’s what you need to know ahead of the return of Peaky Blinders.
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What is the release date for Peaky Blinders season six?
Cillian Murphy will be back in season six of Peaky Blinders. Credit: BBC
Producers finally revealed the release date for the sixth instalment of Peaky Blinders last week.
Creator Steven Knight had previously said they were aiming for a springtime release – but fans were pleasantly surprised by how early the episodes will begin.
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The release date was revealed with a huge mural painted by Manchester’s mural king and legendary street artist, Akse P19.
It’s all set to kick off on Sunday February 27 from 9pm.
It’s then set to air one episode a week at 9pm on Sundays.
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Where to watch Peaky Blinders season six
Tommy and Arthur Shelby in Peaky Blinders. Credit: BBC
Although the previous series of Peaky Blinders are all available to watch on Netflix, it won’t be the streaming platform that gets first dibs on the new episodes.
Episodes will only air once a week, and there’s expected to be six in total, as in previous series.
Where was season six filmed?
The Peaky Blinders cast in a previous series filming at Victoria Baths in Manchester. Credit: BBC
A lot of the scenes in the final instalment of Peaky Blinders were filmed right here in Manchester, despite the drama being based in Birmingham.
Huge sets were built around Castlefield, with the ancient cobbled streets transformed into both Chinatown and Small Heath.
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Crews even built a mock frontage for the Garrison pub, which is owned by the Shelby family.
Cillian Murphy was also spotted filming scenes on a narrowboat on the canals in Castlefield.
It’s not the first time the drama has visited our city – scenes from previous series were shot around Mangle Street, London Road Fire Station, Victoria Baths and Stockport Plaza.
What happened at the end of the last series?
If you haven’t watched season five yet – stop reading now, spoilers lie ahead.
It was an action-packed few weeks with the Shelby family, including plenty of sex, violence and politics.
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The season began with the Wall Street crash of 1929 and the decimation of the Shelby finances, which drives a huge wedge between Tommy and Michael (Polly’s son).
Meanwhile, Tommy is now MP for Birmingham South, and feeding information about fascist Oswald Mosley to British intelligence services.
At the end of the series, Tommy’s attempt to assassinate Mosley in an elaborate plan backfires, resulting in the death of Polly’s fiance Aberama Gold.
The bold cliffhanger saw Tommy’s PTSD in full, devastating effect, with the show’s star strolling into a field with a gun to his head.
Will he pull the trigger? We’ll soon find out.
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What has the creator said?
Steven Knight has confirmed that this will be the last series of Peaky Blinders, but a feature-length film is planned to properly tie things up.
In an interview with the BBC, Knight said: “I don’t want to give away any spoilers so I would just say: Tommy is about to face enemies and demons more powerful than anything he’s ever faced before.
“It’s the mid 1930s, fascism is on the rise, the Shelbys are more powerful than ever. But demons are coming to reclaim Tommy Shelby.
“What I’ve wanted from the beginning is to start off with a character who seems irredeemable. Who is switched off completely; whose humanity has been torn out of him by his experiences in the war.
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“And then slowly bring him back to life, to turn him back into a human being over the however many hours that we’ve done. And I think at the end of six, for all the bad things that he’s done, Tommy is a human being.”
Featured image: BBC
TV & Showbiz
You can now watch Barbie in IMAX for one week only at Manchester Printworks
Emily Sergeant
If you’ve somehow not had the chance to watch Barbie yet, then how does seeing the movie of the summer in IMAX sound?
You may have heard by now that Manchester’s Vue cinema at the Printworks is one of just 30 movie theatres around the world that’s been showing a special 70mm IMAX version of Christopher Nolan’s monumental biographical film Oppenheimer, and that’s about a big of a deal as it gets when it comes to cinematic events, to be fair.
But now, it’s Barbie’s turn for showing on the biggest screen of them all.
There’s absolutely no denying the genuine cultural phenomenon that was the ‘Barbenheimer’ opening weekend showdown back in July, but if it was the nuclear weapon epic you opted for the first time round, and you’ve still not yet found an opportunity to catch Greta Gerwig’s masterpiece, then now’s your chance.
You can now watch Barbie in IMAX for one week only in Manchester / Credit: Warner Bros.
As of today (22 September), Manchester’s largest city centre cinema inside Printworks is screening the Barbie movie in limited-edition IMAX for just one week only.
That’s not all either, as on top of enjoying Barbie in all its ultra-high-definition glory, and seeing Margot Robbie steal the show as she stars in the titular role, alongside Ryan Gosling as Ken, and a massive ensemble cast of some of Hollywood’s biggest names, fans will also be treated to some bonus post-credit footage during their screening too
All the bonus footage has been selected by director Greta Gerwig herself, so that only adds to this rare occasion worth making the most of.
Ian Harris, who is the General Manager at Vue Manchester Printworks, called the release of Barbie a “true cultural moment” that film fans will remember for a long time, and says this one-week special IMAX screening a way to honour that.
One of the IMAX screens at Vue Manchester Printworks / Credit: Vue
“There’s no denying the cultural significance of Greta Gerwig’s film, and we’re thrilled to be offering the chance to watch it in full IMAX,” Mr Harris said.
“The Barbie IMAX experience at Vue Manchester Printworks offers our customers the chance to enter the world of Barbie in a completely unrivalled way, using ear-tingling audio, super-sized screens, and breath-taking imagery.”
Samuel L. Jackson becomes latest Hollywood celeb to declare love for Bolton in new Warburtons ad
Emily Sergeant
Samuel L. Jackson has become the latest Hollywood celebrity to declare his love for Bolton as he stars in the new Warburtons TV advert.
Now, who the heck saw this coming? We’ll bet no one – and you’re likely lying if you claim you did.
The beloved Bolton-born bakery is absolutely no stranger to whipping up viral marketing campaigns featuring unexpected superstars, with acting titans George Clooney, Robert De Niro, and Sylvester Stallone having all fronted the company’s TV ads in the past.
And now, it seems to be Samuel L. Jackson’s turn, by the looks of things, as Warburtons has shared its latest commercial with the world this morning, and the legendary actor appears in the starring role.
The nation’s leading baked goods manufacturer says the new TV advert, which is titled Mad About The Bread, celebrates its “dedication” to making “the best quality loaf” of bread.
The ad opens in the company‘s home town of Bolton, with Samuel L. Jackson seen taking over Jonathan Warburton’s office dressed in the current chairman’s office attire of blue shirt and orange tie, before he turns to camera and delivers the opening line – “Hi, I’m Jonathan Warburton, chairman of the UK’s largest family bakery.”
What follows next can only be described as an unexpectedly-incredible montage of moments showing Samuel L. Jackson – sorry, we mean ‘Jonathan Warburton’ – going on a quest to prove to a doubting bread-lover why Warburtons‘ legendary Toastie loaf is the best there is on UK shop shelves.
Samuel L. Jackson is the star of the new Warburtons TV advert / Credit: Warburtons
‘Jonathan’ can be seen furiously-recalling the effort that goes into making the perfect Toastie loaf, that he emphatically declares is “packed full of the bakery’s unique blend of wheat and 147 years of baking expertise”, and is then shown testing the bread for “softness, butter-ability, and bounce-back-ability”, before he finally knocks the door down of Jonathan’s office, only to be met with the real Jonathan Warburton.
“I couldn’t have said it better myself,” the actual Warburton comments – and neither could we.
Samuel L. Jackson said it was “a pleasure” to star in the new advert and to meet “the man at the helm of Britain’s biggest family bakery”, adding that it was “an honour” to follow in the footsteps of other famous ‘Bolton alumni’.
“We had a lot of fun on set, so I hope people enjoy the finished product – the ad AND Toastie Loaf,” Samuel L. Jackson concluded.
The legendary actor is the latest in a long line of the company’s unbelieveable collaborations / Credit: Warburtons
Jonathan Warburton said the new ad is “a real celebration” of the company’s passion.
“Inviting the big-screen hero of Samuel L. Jackson into the business was a uniquely memorable experience,” he added of the new advert, “And we hope to bring some light-hearted humour to viewers at home.
Daisy Jackson -
25th February 2022 
